R.I.P.: Former Baltimore Broadcaster Brian MacDonald

Brian MacDonald

Brian G. Macdonald, a former radio talk show host and program manager who later taught at Harford Day School, died of heart failure Saturday at his Essex home.

He was 67, according to The Baltimore Sun.

MacDonald worked at small Pennsylvania radio stations before moving to Baltimore to become program director and a morning host at WBJC-FM, the public radio station operated by the Baltimore City Community College.

"He was the consummate professional," said James Armstrong, Towson University academic adviser in the Department of Mass Communication. "I was a student in a broadcast classes at BCCC and he counseled me and taught me how to be a good broadcaster. He showed me how to pay attention to detail and how to handle adversity."

In 1975 Mr. Macdonald joined WBAL 1090 AM. He was a program director and the station's afternoon host. He later became the late night talk radio host.

"As the afternoon host he was easy to listen to and was a good ad-libber," said WBAL Radio's John Patti, who is the station's news anchor and a reporter. "Nothing seemed to rattle him. He had a velvet tone. He was smooth."

In 1985 he moved to WCBM-AM as program director and held the post for three years.

In May 1988, he went on the air to say that WCBM, which was then suffering financial difficulties and failed to pay its employees, "would be temporarily ceasing broadcast operations."

Macdonald became an adjunct professor at Towson University, where he taught public speaking. He also had his own marketing business, Macdonald Creative Marketing, and did voice-over work.